Main Switch Requirements, Explained Simply
Rating, isolation, labelling and location — what the wiring rules expect from the main switch on residential and small commercial boards.
One action, all off
The main switch must isolate the whole installation in a single operation — every live conductor, under full load. Rating follows the service capacity: commonly 63A or 80A single phase residential, with three phase installations switching all phases together.
Where it lives
The main switch sits at the switchboard, accessible without keys or tools, labelled clearly and permanently. Installations with multiple supplies — solar, generators, batteries — need a main switch per supply, each labelled to the standard wording.
Why pre-wired boards help
Boards that arrive with the main switch, RCBOs and labelling in place remove the most common inspection defects at their source. The installer terminates, tests and closes the door.
Related Products
Custom Main Switchboards
Fabricated in Sydney to your exact specification
Three Phase Main Switchboards
Pre-wired 3 phase boards ready to install
Switchboards for Duplexes
Dual-occupancy boards with two metered supplies
Switchboards for Apartment Buildings
Multi-tenancy boards for residential unit blocks
Switchboards
Main switchboards & distribution boards
Meter Surrounds
Panels & surrounds for meter installations
Meter Boxes
Galvanised steel meter boxes
Residential Construction
New builds, duplexes, granny flats and renovations
Government & Schools
Compliant, tamper-resistant supply for public works
Keep Reading
Three Phase vs Single Phase Switchboards
When a home or small commercial site should move to three phase supply, and what that means for the main switchboard and metering.
7 Signs a Switchboard Needs Upgrading
Ceramic fuses, no safety switches, flickering lights and warm panels — the warning signs that a switchboard is overdue for replacement.
EV Charger Installation: Switchboard Requirements
What a home EV charger means for the switchboard — dedicated circuit, RCD type, load management and when three phase makes sense.